Today is the National Day of Mourning, a day dedicated to remembering those who have lost their lives, suffered injury or illness on the job, or experienced a work-related tragedy, as well as a time to collectively renew commitments to improve health and safety in the workplace and prevent further injuries, illnesses and deaths.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety is among the many organizations across the country that are encouraging workers, communities and individuals to hold or support an event, or to simply observe a moment of silence at 11 a.m. this Friday.

CCOHS has also made a moment of silence video that can be shared or played in workplaces to honour those who have died or suffered injury or illness due to a work-related tragedy.

According to the Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada, there were 1,081 workplace fatalities recorded in Canada in 2021. More than 1,000 of those deaths were among male workers, as well as 18 young workers aged 15 to 24.

Add to these fatalities the 277,217 accepted claims (an increase of 23,820 from the previous year) for lost time due to a work-related injury or disease, including 34,548 from workers aged 15 to 24, and the fact that these statistics only include what is reported and accepted by the compensation boards, CCOHS says there is no doubt that the total number of workers impacted is even greater.

The National Day of Morning was launched by the Canadian Labour Congress in 1983. In 1991, Parliament passed the Workers Mourning Day Act making April 28 an official day of mourning.

The Day of Mourning has since spread to more than 100 countries around the world and is recognized as Workers’ Memorial Day, and as International Workers' Memorial Day by the International Labour Organisation and the International Trade Union Confederation.

CCOHS says it hopes that the annual observance of this day will help strengthen the resolve to establish safe and healthy conditions in the workplace, and prevent further injuries, illnesses, and deaths.

“As much as this is a day to remember those who have lost their lives, it is also a call to protect the living and make work a place where people are safe and can thrive,” it says.